Category: Uncategorized

Farm Workers

Migrant Farmworkers United: May 2025 Newsletter

Welcome to the newest edition of Migrant Farmworkers United, your place to find all upcoming activities and important news!

Have something to share? Want to see something more included? ✅ Send a WhatsApp message to Kit at 905-324-2840.

📰 News

  • 🗳️ ELECTION: On April 28, the new federal government will be decided in Canada. To stay updated, join the WhatsApp announcements or Facebook group! Message Kit to join: 905-324-2840.
  • ‼️ NEW PROGRAM CHANGES: The Canadian government is creating a new program called the Agriculture and Fishery Processing Stream. But will these changes benefit workers and your families, or profit the bosses more?​

🗓️ Events & Actions

  • 📝​ April 25-May 26​: Online survey to speak up about changes to the farm work program: surveymonkey.com/r/mwacFW2025
  • 🗣️ May 4, 6:30-8pm: Online meeting to learn how & why these changes are happening – and how we can use our voice together to speak up for justice. Tap this link to sign up: actionnetwork.org/events/may4-focusgroup​
  • 🁊 May 24, 7pm: Dominoes tournament in the Niagara Region. Message for location.
  • ✊🏾 Ongoing: TREAT FARM WORKERS FAIR sticker action. Coming soon to a grocery store near you!

To learn more about these activities in May, send a WhatsApp message to Kit at 905-324-2840.

👥 Meetings

  • 🤝🏾 April 28, 8pm: Monthly farmworker members meeting (online)
  • 🗣️ May 4, 6:30-8pm: Online meeting to learn how & why program changes are happening – and how we can use our voice together to speak up for justice. Tap this link to sign up: actionnetwork.org/events/may4-focusgroup
  • 🤝🏾 May 26, 8pm: Monthly farmworker members meeting (online)

Thinking about joining a meeting in May? We’d love to see you! Just send a WhatsApp message to Kit at 905-324-2840.

✅ Stay up-to-date

News and information is constantly changing. Make sure you’re on top of what’s going on!

  1. Join the Facebook group. Tap here to add yourself to the group and get all the latest news: facebook.com/groups/farmworkersunited
  2. Join the WhatsApp new announcements group. Tap this link to join: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FZNXnZLmZ0R3EKuNg7ZLix. Or send a WhatsApp message to Kit at 905-324-2840 with the words “EQUAL RIGHTS” to be added. This list is private and confidential.
  3. Follow us on YouTube. More videos will be added each month, don’t miss out! Tap here to watch: youtube.com/mwaccanada

⚠️ Report abuse & unsafe work

As always, remember to get proof if you are facing any kind of disrespect, abuse, or unsafe conditions at work or at the bunkhouse. You have rights and options! But without any evidence, your options are limited.

Contact Kit on WhatsApp at 905-324-2840 to learn more about your rights. Everything you share is private and confidential. You are not alone. We are here for you.

United, we are stronger!

Open Meeting for Caregivers Excluded from HCWIP 

On March 31, 2025, thousands of migrant caregivers were shut out of the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot (HCWIP). For many of us, it was the last chance to apply for permanent residency. For others, it was the only option left before our status expires. All the sacrifices we’ve made and the money spent have been wasted.

This is unfair, and we won’t accept it.

Join our open online meeting on Wednesday, April 16 at 8 PM EST | 5 PM PST to hear from each other, learn about your immigration options, and make a plan to fight back.

Please fill out our confidential form so we can best support you in taking action!

Trabajador@s Agrícolas

Conozca sus derechos: Beneficios y protección para trabajador@s agrícolas

✨ Le invitamos a una sesión informativa gratuita en línea

¿Es trabajador/a agrícola temporal en Canadá y le preocupa si los nuevos aranceles impuestos por Estados Unidos le afectaran y como? ¿Quiere saber cuáles son sus derechos y cómo protegerse? ¿Quiere saber mas sobre acceso a beneficios como el seguro de desempleo?

🕰️ Hora:

  • 7:00 p.m. Ontario / Quebec
  • 5:00 p.m. Alberta
  • 4:00 p.m. Columbia Británica (BC)
  • 6:00 p.m. Centro de México

¡No se pierda esta oportunidad de conocer a más trabajador@s migrantes luchando por una vida digna para nosotr@s y nuestras familias!

✅ Hablemos sobre el acceso al seguro de desempleo ✅ Comparta sus experiencias y conéctese con otr@s trabajador@s ✅ Conozca si le van a afectar los aranceles como trabajador/a migrante en Canada ✅ Infórmese sobre sus derechos laborales

📌 Regístrese para recibir el enlace para la reunión. Su información es 100% confidencial.

Farm Workers

Protect yourself in Canada: April 13 Online Meeting for Farmworkers

While living and working in Canada to provide for your family, you deserve to stay healthy and safe. Do you agree?

Sign up for our free online meeting on April 13 to learn how to protect yourself from abuse and unsafe conditions. Let’s work together to keep you healthy and safe this season, so that you can continue supporting your family and loved ones!

To join, sign up using the form below. Everything you share is private and confidential.

Questions or concerns? Contact MWAC organizer Kit on WhatsApp at 905-324-2840.

Migrant Students

Get involved in the action to renew PGWP, increase PR!

PGWP workers with expired and expiring permits are uniting on an (1) electoral strategy, and (2) Solutions, not Scapegoats media strategy. Read more about the strategy, political opportunities below, and join the fight for immigration justice!

Our plan of action

We have a joint media and electoral strategy to respond to the political moment we’re in. We must create political pressure, and shift the public narrative that is blaming migrants and international students for the housing and job crisis. 

🔹 Electoral Strategy: On April 28, 2025, there will be a federal election. We’ll push candidates in our ridings to take a stand on permit renewals and increasing permanent residency programs.

🔹 “Solutions, Not Scapegoats” Media Campaign: We’ll share our stories to challenge the narrative that immigrants are to blame for economic issues.

Our Political Opportunities

✅ Using the elections to push on immigration justice: The federal elections are April 28, 2025. From now until then, candidates from political parties want to win a seat in their riding. We need a coordinated strategy that is effective on multiple levels, and scale our power up. Candidates will be doing campaign events in each of our ridings, like townhalls, all-candidate debates and more. We are part of their constituent base, even though we cannot vote. We can raise how cuts to immigration hurt all working people in the country, have knock-on effects on the economy and communities, and demand they take a stand on immigration justice.

✅ Exposing contradictions: More and more, working-class Canadians must realize we are not the problem, and that cuts to immigration hurt them too. Many critical sectors like education, healthcare and childcare, are already falling apart because so many of us have to leave jobs when our permits expire. Employers are also using this as an excuse to layoff other workers and lower standards for all of us.

✅ Building unity: We have support from allies in major unions, healthcare and immigration organizations, who know that racism and xenophobia are not the answer. More will recognize this is a shared fight. 

We can bring in more of our coworkers, friends, and neighbours. We need both unity and strength in numbers.

Every day, 3,000 permits expire—we can’t afford to stay silent.

The issue and why it’s happening

Our permits are expired / expiring, the requirements for Express Entry programs are restrictive, the minimum cut off scores have been high and the draws for Canadian Experience Class are infrequent. Category-based selection has also let the government cherrypick who gets permanent residency and who doesn’t. 

We’re impacted by the massive cuts to permanent residency programs. Provincial programs have been cut by 55%. Some streams of PNP are closing overnight, and they’re suddenly saying our jobs no longer qualify. They want us to fight and compete with each other. But permanent residency and our rights should not be like the hunger games.

We’re in a global economic crisis. At the same time, some people – politicians, corporate employers and landlords – are making record-breaking profits, while the majority of us are struggling to make ends meet. They need somebody to blame. Over the last 18 months, migrants have been scapegoated for the housing crisis, taking jobs, lowering wages and working conditions, causing inflation – this is simply not true. Racism and xenophobia are meant to divide and distract us.

Public opinion on immigration has shifted. In response, the federal government walked back on promises and instead cut permits and immigration, which adds to more scapegoating. It’s a vicious cycle. But when our rights are under attack, we must fight back.

Farm Workers

Migrant Farmworkers United: April 2025 Newsletter

It’s officially springtime and many seasonal farm workers have returned to Canada for another season! While we are grateful for many returns, we also mourn our coworkers who were killed or injured on the job last season, or who were not called back this year. We will not stop fighting for safer workplaces and a better life for all migrants.

We’re always looking for new people to unite with us and take action to win!
Want to get more involved? ✅ Send a WhatsApp message to Kit at 905-324-2840.

📰 News

  • 📣 ACTION: On March 21 for Fight Racism Day, MWAC Caribbean farm worker members organized our FIRST action of the year! We called the Immigration Minister, Rachel Bendaya, and invited our friends, family, and coworkers to take action with us. We told Minister Bendaya to say NO to unfair immigration cuts and YES to equal rights and permanent status for all! Tap here to watch a video message from MWAC farmworker member, Casius.
  • 🗳️ ELECTION: On March 23, a federal election was called in Canada. Parties are campaigning now and on April 28 the new government will be voted in. Whoever wins, we will continue to fight for equal rights for all migrants! On April 13, join the online meeting to learn more about how we can use the elections to speak up about migrant rights.
  • ‼️ NEW CHANGES: If you’re on the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (8 month contract or less), there are changes to your contract this year – including more $ deducted from your pay. Tap here to see your new 2025 contract and get more information about changes to your rights in Canada. Then, join us online on April 13 to learn more about how to protect yourself in Canada!

“Immigrants in this country are facing a lot of abuse, a lot of discrimination, so we’re asking you to join us and stand up together. United we are stronger!

– Casius, MWAC Farmworker Member

🗓️ Events & Actions

  • ✊🏾 Sun, April 13: Rights Night for Migrant Farm Workers (online). Join this free training to learn about changes to your contract this year and how to protect yourself while in Canada! Tap here to sign up (free & confidential): migrantworkersalliance.org/april13-fwmeeting
  • 🌊 Sun, April 27: Sightseeing trip to Niagara Falls. Let’s visit the Falls together and put up some posters for migrant rights along the way!
  • 🕯️ Mon, April 28: National Day of Mourning. In Canada, workers observe this day to remember and honour those who have died, been injured or suffered illness in the workplace.

To sign up for these events in April, send a WhatsApp message to Kit at 905-324-2840.

👥 Meetings

  • 🤝🏾 March 31, 8pm: Monthly farmworker members meeting (online). These meetings are where members come together to discuss ideas and make important decisions about actions and events.
  • 🫂 Saturday in April TBD: Support meeting (online). Join this supportive space to connect with other migrants like you as we encourage and uplift one another.
  • 🤝🏾 April 28, 8pm: Monthly farmworker members meeting (online)

Thinking about joining a meeting in April? We’d love to see you! Just send a WhatsApp message to Kit at 905-324-2840.

✅ Stay up-to-date

News and information is constantly changing. Make sure you’re on top of what’s going on!

  1. Join the Facebook group. Tap here to add yourself to the group and get all the latest news: facebook.com/groups/farmworkersunited
  2. Join the news & updates WhatsApp list. Send a WhatsApp message to Kit at 905-324-2840 with the words “EQUAL RIGHTS” to be added. This list is private and confidential.
  3. Follow us on YouTube. More videos will be added each month, don’t miss out! Tap here to watch: youtube.com/mwaccanada

⚠️ Report abuse & unsafe work

As always, remember to get proof if you are facing any kind of disrespect, abuse, or unsafe conditions at work or at the bunkhouse. You have rights and options! But without any evidence, your options are limited.

Contact Kit on WhatsApp at 905-324-2840 to learn more about your rights. Everything you share is private and confidential. You are not alone. We are here for you.

United, we are stronger!

Farm Workers

Take Action with Migrant Farmworkers: Call for Status for All!

March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Migrants in Canada face a lot of abuse because we don’t have permanent resident status. We are essential, yet excluded from basic rights and services. We are separated from our families and denied equal access to care. We build this country, but are blamed and punished for government policy failures in housing, healthcare, and affordability. It’s not fair!

This weekend – before the next election is called – we are uniting against racism and calling on the new Immigration Minister, Rachel Bendayan, and the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, to 1) Stop the unfair cuts to immigration, and 2) Grant permanent resident status for all.

As migrant workers, our voices are powerful when we unite! Let’s come together and get louder for our rights.

Here’s an important message for you from MWAC member, Casius:

🤔 Is it safe to call?

This action is 100% risk-free, but it’s totally normal to feel nervous if you haven’t taken this kind of action before! Calling the Minister is private, and your call will not be traced. Your boss or immigration official will never know that you called, and taking action will not risk your job or immigration status in any way.

Still not sure if it’s okay for you to make a call? No problem! Keep reading for other safe actions you can take, or contact Kit on WhatsApp at 905-324-2840.

📞 How do I call and make my voice heard?

Here are 3 options to use your voice:

  1. Call Minister Bendayan at 613-995-7691
  2. Send a WhatsApp voice note with your message to MWAC farmworker organizer, Kit, at 905-324-2840. We will call the Minister and play your message.
  3. Send a message to PM Carney using the action form below, or tap this link to make your voice heard.

Which action will you take to win change? Why not try 2 of them, or even all 3! Don’t forget to ask a friend to join you!

🗣️ What do I say when I call?

  • My name is [your name] and I live in [your city].
  • I am calling for Immigration Minister Rachel Bendayan. 
  • I am calling on the Minister to STOP the cuts to immigration and stop blaming migrants for the crises in housing, healthcare, and affordability. Migrants are the ones who feed Canadians, build homes, and care for communities.
  • I am also calling on the Minister to grant permanent status for ALL migrants – including those currently in the country and those who will arrive in the future.
  • A fair society is one with equal rights and that’s only possible with permanent resident status for all.
  • [Add anything else about why you support status for all, or how you have been impacted by immigration cuts – optional]
  • Thank you

📝 How do I contact the Prime Minister?

Use this safe and easy action form to send a message. Your name and other personal information will not be shared with anybody else. This action will not put your job or immigration status at risk in any way.

March 23: Online Support Clinic for Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot Applicants

 ✅ Are you ready to apply for the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot opening on March 31? Do you already have your English test results and educational credentials? If yes, this workshop is for you!

🗓️ Join our free online clinic on Sunday, March 23 at 6pm for tips, answers to your questions, and support with filling out forms (even if some aren’t available yet) to prepare for the application.

✍️ Don’t miss out! Register for the Zoom link below and share with friends and other caregivers.

Programa de Inmigración para Trabajador@s de la Construcción para Indocumentad@s – ¡Reciba actualizaciones!

El 7 de marzo de 2025, el gobierno federal anunció que 6,000 trabajador@s de la construcción indocumentad@s en todo el país podrían solicitar la residencia permanente, pero NO se han publicado detalles ni fechas, tampoco cuales serán los requisitos y quiénes estarán incluid@s.

¡Regístrese ahora para recibir las últimas novedades sobre el programa en cuanto se anuncien! Compartiremos información gratuita y legítima con usted; no pague a consultor@s de inmigración codicios@s que difunden información falsa para sacarle dinero.

Su información se mantendrá confidencial y se utilizará únicamente para mantenerle informad@. Junt@s, exijamos al gobierno que cumpla lo que dice y luchemos por un programa que no deje a nadie afuera. ¡Manténgase informad@: regístrese hoy!